How Virginia taxes your paycheck
Virginia has four income tax rates: 2%, 3%, 5% and 5.75%. The 5.75% rate applies to taxable income above $17,000, a threshold that has not changed since 1990.
To figure your withholding, your employer multiplies your pay by the number of paychecks in the year, subtracts an $8,750 standard deduction and $930 for each exemption on your Form VA-4, applies the rates and divides the result by your number of paychecks. The same $8,750 is used whatever your filing status.
Exemptions come from Virginia's own form. On Form VA-4 you can claim one exemption for yourself, one for your spouse if they are not claimed on their own certificate, and one for each dependent. People who are 65 or older or legally blind claim extra exemptions worth $800 each. If you never file a VA-4, your employer withholds as if you had no exemptions.
A traditional 401(k) and pre-tax health premiums lower your Virginia tax the same way they lower your federal income tax, because Virginia uses the federal definition of pay that is subject to withholding.
Virginia has no local income taxes. Unemployment insurance is paid by employers, and state law does not let them take it out of your wages. A paid family and medical leave program became law in 2026, but payroll contributions for it do not start until April 1, 2028.
If you live in Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky or the District of Columbia and work in Virginia, a reciprocity agreement may mean your home state taxes your wages instead. This calculator assumes you live and work in Virginia.
| Deduction | Rate | Applies to wages up to |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | 10% to 37% | No limit |
| Social Security | 6.2% | $184,500 |
| Medicare | 1.45% (2.35% over $200,000) | No limit |
| Virginia income tax | 2% to 5.75% | No limit |
Virginia income tax rates
| Yearly taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 to $3,000 | 2% |
| $3,000 to $5,000 | 3% |
| $5,000 to $17,000 | 5% |
| Over $17,000 | 5.75% |
Taxable income here is your yearly pay after pre-tax deductions, minus the $8,750 standard deduction and $930 for each exemption.
How to use the Virginia paycheck calculator
Enter your salary, or your hourly wage and hours, choose how often you are paid and pick the filing status on your W-4. The calculator estimates your Virginia (VA) take-home pay for each paycheck and for the year, after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Virginia income tax.
It follows the published withholding formulas that employers' payroll systems use, so it works as a paycheck estimator for a job offer, a raise or a change to your W-4. Open "401(k), benefits and W-4 details" to add pre-tax deductions, dependents or extra withholding. Your real paycheck can differ if your employer takes out deductions the calculator does not know about.
Virginia take-home pay examples
Single filer, paid every two weeks, standard W-4 with no dependents, no 401(k) or pre-tax benefits, in Virginia with one personal exemption on Form VA-4.
| Salary | Per paycheck | Per year | Taxes per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $975.93 | $25,374.10 | $4,625.90 |
| $40,000 | $1,262.85 | $32,834.10 | $7,165.90 |
| $50,000 | $1,549.78 | $40,294.10 | $9,705.90 |
| $60,000 | $1,836.69 | $47,754.10 | $12,245.90 |
| $75,000 | $2,234.39 | $58,094.10 | $16,905.90 |
| $100,000 | $2,855.54 | $74,244.10 | $25,755.90 |
| $150,000 | $4,076.16 | $105,980.10 | $44,019.90 |
| Hourly rate | Per week | Per year | Before taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 an hour | $505.18 | $26,269.30 | $31,200 |
| $20.00 an hour | $654.38 | $34,027.70 | $41,600 |
| $25.00 an hour | $803.58 | $41,786.10 | $52,000 |
| $30.00 an hour | $952.78 | $49,544.50 | $62,400 |
| $40.00 an hour | $1,219.07 | $63,391.30 | $83,200 |
| $50.00 an hour | $1,477.47 | $76,828.10 | $104,000 |
Virginia paycheck questions
What is the Virginia income tax rate in 2026?
Virginia taxes the first $3,000 of taxable income at 2%, the next $2,000 at 3%, income from $5,000 to $17,000 at 5% and everything above $17,000 at 5.75%.
How is Virginia income tax withheld from my paycheck?
Your employer annualizes your pay, subtracts an $8,750 standard deduction and $930 for each exemption on your Form VA-4, applies Virginia's rates and divides the yearly tax by your number of paychecks.
How many exemptions can I claim on Form VA-4?
One for yourself, one for your spouse if they are not claimed on their own certificate, and one for each dependent you will claim on your tax return. You get extra exemptions if you or your spouse are 65 or older or legally blind.
Does a 401(k) lower my Virginia taxes?
Yes. Traditional 401(k) contributions and pre-tax health premiums are left out of the pay Virginia taxes, just as they are for federal income tax.
Are there local income taxes in Virginia?
No. Virginia cities and counties do not tax wages, so the result is the same in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Arlington or anywhere else in the state.
Is anything taken out of my Virginia paycheck for paid family leave?
Not in 2026. Virginia created a paid family and medical leave program in 2026, and payroll contributions for it begin on April 1, 2028.
Sources
- Virginia Tax: withholding formula and tables for wages paid after July 1, 2025
- Virginia Tax: Income Tax Withholding Guide for Employers
- Virginia Tax: Form VA-4, Employee's Virginia Income Tax Withholding Exemption Certificate
- Code of Virginia § 58.1-320: income tax rates
- Code of Virginia § 58.1-322.03: standard deduction and personal exemptions
- Code of Virginia § 60.2-107: no deduction from wages for unemployment taxes
- Code of Virginia § 60.2-806: paid family and medical leave contributions
- IRS: tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- Social Security wage base for 2026
- 2026 401(k) contribution limit
Tax figures last reviewed October 7, 2026. How we calculate